The Vietnamese manufacturer VinFast unveils its VF 3, a small affordable electric car with urban SUV lights. A newcomer to the range which should display an unbeatable price to compete with the Dacia Spring.
Already well established in Vietnam, its country of origin, VinFast is slowly starting to make its arrival in Europe. The firm founded in 2018 by billionaire Phạm Nhật Vượng was notably present at the last edition of the Paris Motor Show in October. It also has several concessions on the continent, including one in the heart of Paris.
An unprecedented city car
Today, the manufacturer already has several models in its range, including the VF6, VF7 and VF9, as well as the VF8 recently launched in the United States, with somewhat disappointing autonomy. It is then only SUV, ranging from compact to family format. But now the firm is lifting the veil today on a brand new car a bit apart in the range.
This has just been officially announced by VinFast in a press release just published. But to tell the truth, it’s not really a surprise, since the Asian manufacturer, which recently revised its price list, had already announced that it wanted to launch a vehicle of this type a few weeks earlier. It is now done.
Here we are facing the brand new VF 3, a name that follows the nomenclature put in place by the manufacturer, and which is rather logical. And we are therefore not really surprised to discover a very compact model, which displays a length of only 3.11 meters, against 3.73 meters for the Dacia Spring, which will be its main competitor if it ever arrives in France.
This new addition to the range displays a very adventurous style, inspired by the world of SUVs. The lines are angular and the car sits on 16-inch wheels. At the front, we obviously find the logo of the brand as well as a chrome bar which crosses the grille and connects the lights. Some might even see the tunes of Suzuki Jimny, or Baojun Yueye, which recently offered new variations.
An affordable price ?
The back is just as adorable as the front part and picks up a few things like the chrome strip integrated into a large black insert. The shield is also prominent to give this new VF 3 an even more adventurous look. On the other hand, we do not know for the moment the ground clearance of the vehicle, which seems a little higher than for a classic city car. But this remains to be verified. We also note the very visible side protections.
VinFast also posted a photo of the cockpit, which unsurprisingly looks quite conventional. The latter can accommodate up to five people, although the length of its wheelbase has not been communicated. The endowment seems quite basic, but still includes a digital handset. On the other hand, it does not seem no central touch screen.
Price and availability
They will be two to be offered at launch, namely Eco and Plus, without the brand giving details for the moment. It is also not very loquacious on the engines since it is content to announce that its VF 3 is equipped with an electric motor and a battery adapted to the daily needs of Vietnamese drivers. For the record, the Dacia Spring reaches 65 horsepower and announces a range of up to 230 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle.
There is also an important point to know: the price. Because it was announced between 10 and 12,000 euros. A figure to be taken with tweezers because it will undoubtedly be higher if the small SUV arrives in France, in particular because of taxes. But that shouldn’t be the case right away, because the VinFast VF 3 will start shipping in its home market. at the end of next year only. Orders will open next September for this BYD Seagull rival.
The manufacturer gives a small hint on the price, however, announcing that the car will be “affordable for mass success“.
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